[Philmont] Advisor Questions

Scott
1) the 150' of rope is for hanging bear bags. If you crew is trying to go light weight and has already gotten, lightweight packs, sleeping bags and shelters that use hiking poles for their support, then I might recommend using you own rope. If you provide you own rope then you can get something a little lighter.
If you have not made the above replacements, then its probably too late (unless your crew is rich and not thrifty) Here is a great link for a crew who did go lightweight and still was prepared
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/boy_scout_gear_list_philmont.html
 
2) Philmont's bear bags are as light as you can get. Some people like to get or make their own so that they can identify their own. We used Philmonts and made our bags unique.
 
3) Bugs -- you know everyone is so worried about something that Humanity has survived for so long.
We had some black files and our trek started 7/01, but only one Scout attracted them so we dubbed him 'Lord of the Flies" We had 2 small tubes of bug repellent and I used none of it.
 
4) We used Micropur exclusively and had no problems. With that said their are donkeys (ours urinated only in running water) and cattle, so IF I get to go again, I'll take a filter.
 
5) We went to Valle Vidal (no red roof inns - latrines) for a day and almost every crew member used
the orange shovel -- take at least 2 -- we also had a couple of emergencies where we were in between red roof inns -- The digging is fine unless going up a peak.
 
The one thing that I did not do to get ready was train hard enough -- Walk or run everyday -- If its raining so what -- Wind (no tornado watches) so what get out there -- do at least 5 miles or more
Its not tooo late to start
 
 
Prudence, Justice, Fortitude, Temperance

>>> On 08-Jun-08 at 7:18 PM, in message <MDAEMON-F200806081918.AA1830290pd50006286529@troop47.com>, "scott vivian" <svivian@null.net> wrote:
We are having one of our last advisor meetings and some questions are popping up - imagine that!
 
So here are a couple of ours:
 
1) 150' of rope - use Philmonts' or bring your own? If your own - any recommendations? What is this for?
 
2) Bear bags - use Philmonts' or bring your own? We have one bear canister and I have a light-weight BB from BPL. Is it worth getting something else?
 
3) Bugs - our trek is July 21. Ticks/Flys/Chiggers/Mosquitos? What's there?
 
4) Water purifiers/filters - are they needed? We are going on trek #28 which goes into Valle Vidal. How much filtering is done?
 
5) Cat holes - is there a need to dig these or are there facilities along the trail to avoid digging? For digging is the "standard" orange potty trowel suffucient or is the soil there harder?
 

Thank you in advance for your assistance.
 
Scott Vivian - 0721-H7

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